EU wants supervision over Kosovo in return for aid

The European Union is trying to steer Kosovo away from full independence, reports from Ljubljana said Sunday. Voice of America (VOA) quoted Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa as saying that Kosovo's heavy dependence on EU assistance means it cannot be totally independent, and that the 27-nation bloc "wants supervisory powers in return for financial aid and a 2,000-strong assistance mission of legal experts and law enforcement agents." EU wants supervision over Kosovo in return for aid Speaking to journalists in Ljubljana, Jansa said Kosovo "will not have total independence," and added that such a European mission, designed to replace UNMIK, "would not be sent to a totally independent country, sovereign country." On January 1, Slovenia took over the six month rotating EU presidency. According to VOA, Jansa today indicated the EU will "seek to conclude a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with both Serbia and Kosovo." "Dangling such a scenario before Kosovo could be seen as an EU attempt to lure Kosovo away from seeking full-fledged independence," the agency reports from Ljubljana. As for the discord within the Union over Kosovo's possible unilateral declaration of independence, Jansa said "EU unanimity is needed only for the establishment of contractual relations between Kosovo and the EU, a development that is not likely to materialize in the immediate future." Abstentions within the EU will not, on the other hand, deter it from providing assistance to Kosovo, the Slovenian prime minister was quoted. Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia have made their opposition to the plans to recognize such unilateral declaration of independence publicly known. But Jansa was quoted as saying yesterday that "all EU member states agree that Kosovo's current status as a Serbian province is not sustainable," warning at the same time that a solution to the province's status would "have to be found quickly, or stability in the region will be at risk." VOA says that Jansa "offered no clear views on how the EU expects to mollify Serbia, which has left no doubt it will not acquiesce to the loss of Kosovo." He said Serbia's "intransigence" is not "in the interests of the Serbian people," and that the choice, "which was artificially made by some politicians in Serbia," of "Kosovo or the European Union" is a "real alternative." Jansa noted that no conceivable solution will immediately guarantee stability in the region and warned of a "period of turbulence" in the course of which the EU will need to be "very sensitive and very strong."

EU wants supervision over Kosovo in return for aid

Speaking to journalists in Ljubljana, Janša said Kosovo "will not have total independence," and added that such a European mission, designed to replace UNMIK, "would not be sent to a totally independent country, sovereign country."

On January 1, Slovenia took over the six month rotating EU presidency.

According to VOA, Janša today indicated the EU will "seek to conclude a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with both Serbia and Kosovo."

"Dangling such a scenario before Kosovo could be seen as an EU attempt to lure Kosovo away from seeking full-fledged independence," the agency reports from Ljubljana.

As for the discord within the Union over Kosovo's possible unilateral declaration of independence, Janša said "EU unanimity is needed only for the establishment of contractual relations between Kosovo and the EU, a development that is not likely to materialize in the immediate future."

Abstentions within the EU will not, on the other hand, deter it from providing assistance to Kosovo, the Slovenian prime minister was quoted.

Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia have made their opposition to the plans to recognize such unilateral declaration of independence publicly known.

But Janša was quoted as saying yesterday that "all EU member states agree that Kosovo's current status as a Serbian province is not sustainable," warning at the same time that a solution to the province's status would "have to be found quickly, or stability in the region will be at risk."

VOA says that Janša "offered no clear views on how the EU expects to mollify Serbia, which has left no doubt it will not acquiesce to the loss of Kosovo."

He said Serbia's "intransigence" is not "in the interests of the Serbian people," and that the choice, "which was artificially made by some politicians in Serbia," of "Kosovo or the European Union" is a "real alternative."

Janša noted that no conceivable solution will immediately guarantee stability in the region and warned of a "period of turbulence" in the course of which the EU will need to be "very sensitive and very strong."